Why staring at a live Christmas tree relieves festive stress

If family festivities send you stir crazy over Christmas, there’s no need to run for the hills. Just find the nearest tree.

Spending as little as five minutes looking at foliage is enough to relieve stress and anxiety, claim countryside campaigners.

And even a brief stroll through a park or wood could lower blood pressure and improve health, according to research by the National Trust.

Feeling blue? Spending time looking at a touch of greenery can dispel stress, according to countryside campaigners

A poll carried out by the charity found that the happiest respondents were those who said they had a strong connection with nature and the great outdoors.

Regional director Mark Harold said: ‘Over recent years, the stress of Christmas has increased – so much so that a search for “Christmas stress tips” on Google returns more than 17million results.

‘The festive walk is one such antidote and often bears a sharp contrast to the commercial build-up to Christmas. Whether it’s a bracing hilltop march or an amble through the park, I know many people value walking as a simple pleasure and a chance to unwind from the hustle and bustle of the season.’

Previous studies have suggested that exposure to nature can improve health and alleviate depression. Earlier this year, Essex University researchers showed that as little as five minutes in a green space can reduce stress and counter low self-esteem.

Just under half of the 1,294 respondents surveyed by the National Trust said they were happy with their lives – but of those, 80 per cent reported having a strong connection with the natural world.

Overall, two-thirds of participants felt connected to the outdoors, while one in ten said they had no link at all. Getting back to nature was most important among those aged 35 to 44 – possibly because they are more likely to have young children.